VIS - On the morning of 7 June in the Vatican, the Holy Father received participants in the sixth European Symposium of University Professors, which is being held in Rome from 4 to 7 June on the theme: "Broadening the Horizons of Reason. Prospects for Philosophy".

The symposium has been promoted by university professors in Rome and organised by the Office for Pastoral Care in Universities of the Vicariate of Rome, in collaboration with regional and provincial institutions and the local city authorities.

In opening his address to them the Pope mentioned the fact that this year marks the tenth anniversary of John Paul II's Encyclical "Fides et ratio", and he recalled how when that document was published "fifty professors of philosophy in Roman universities ... expressed their gratitude to the Pope with a declaration underlining the importance of re-launching the study of philosophy in universities and schools".

"The events of the years that have passed since the publication of the Encyclical have", said the Holy Father, "delineated more clearly the historical and cultural stage onto which philosophical research is called to enter. Indeed, the crisis of modernity is not a symptom of the decline of philosophy; on the contrary, philosophy must embark upon new lines of research in order to understand the true nature of that crisis".

"Modernity is not simply a historically-datable cultural phenomenon; in reality it requires a new focus, a more exact understanding of the nature of man".

Benedict XVI indicated that since the beginning of his pontificate he had received various suggestions "from men and women of our time", and that "in the light of these I have decided to offer a research proposal which I feel may arouse interest in a relaunch of philosophy and of its unique role within the modern academic and cultural world".

Quoting his own book, "Introduction to Christianity", he said: "The Christian faith has made a clear choice: against the gods of religion for the God of the philosophers, in other words against the myth of custom and for the truth of being". And he went on: "This affirmation ... is still fully relevant in the historical-cultural context in which we now live. Indeed, only on the basis of this premise - which is historical and theological at one and the same time - is it possible to respond to the new expectations of philosophy. The risk that religion, even the Christian religion, be surreptitiously manipulated, is very real even today".

"The proposal to 'Broaden the Horizons of Reason' should" he proceeded, "be understood as a request for a new openness towards the reality to which human beings in their uni-totality are called, overcoming old prejudices and reductive viewpoints in order to open the way to a new understanding of modernity".

"The new dialogue between faith and reason which is needed today cannot come about in the terms and the ways it did in the past", said the Pope. "If it does not want to see itself reduced to the status of sterile intellectual exercise, it must start from the current real situation of mankind, and upon that build a reflection that embraces man's ontological and metaphysical truth".

In closing, Benedict XVI referred to the need to "promote high-profile academic centres in which philosophy can enter into dialogue with other disciplines, in particular with theology, to favour new cultural syntheses capable of guiding society". In this context, he expressed the hope that "Catholic academic institutions may be ready to create true cultural laboratories" and he invited the professors to encourage young people "to commit themselves to philosophical studies by facilitating appropriate initiatives" to guide them in that direction.

Reuters

BBC -The pope has timed a speech about the role of Ireland in European history to coincide with the eve of the Lisbon Referendum.

Pope Benedict has used his weekly audience to praise the central role of Irish missionaries in European history, a day before voters go to the polls to decide the future of the Lisbon Treaty.

Speaking to tens of thousands of pilgrims in St Peter's Square, the Pope gave a sermon about the life of St Columbanus, an Irish monk born in 543 who travelled to Europe to spread Christianity. In his speech charting the saint's life, Pope Benedict said that Columbanus could be called a "European saint".
The Pope explained that Columbanus, who was born in Leinster, entered monastic life in Bangor aged 20, before leaving "with 12 companions to begin missionary work on the European continent, where the migration of peoples from the north and the east had caused entire Christian regions to lapse back into paganism".
Pope hails Irish role in Europe

Reuters

Times Online - President Bush arrived at the Vatican this morning to a welcome from Pope Benedict XVI so unusually cordial that it gave rise to speculation in the Italian press that Mr Bush might convert to Catholicism.

In an unprecedented move the pontiff met Mr Bush for their final encounter not in the papal library, as is usual under normally strict Vatican protocol, but at St John's Tower, a restored medieval tower in the Vatican walls used to house the Vatican's VIP guests.

As he entered the tower with the Pope, Mr Bush repeatedly exclaimed, "this is such an honour, such an honour".

Reuters

Mr Bush and the Pope held talks for half an hour, after which they gave each other photographs commemorating the Pope's visit to the White House in April, leading Laura Bush to laugh and exclaim, "We're giving the same things!" Earlier Mrs Bush greeted the Pope by saying, "How are you, so good to see you, you look great." Mr Bush alternately addressed the Pope as "Your Holiness" and "Sir" observing "You've got a beautiful place here."

As Mr Bush and the Pope posed for photographs flanked by Mrs Bush and Mary Ann Glendon, the US Ambassador to the Holy See, Mr Bush joked to the pontiff, "We are surrounded by impressive women."

A communique issued by the Vatican said that Mr Bush and the Pope discussed US-European relations, the Middle East and peace efforts in the Holy Land, and globalisation and the world food crisis.

The talks were followed by a stroll around the Vatican gardens and a performance by the Sistine Chapel choir of two motets, one by Palestrina and the other a modern composition by the choir's conductor, Giuseppe Liberto.

Reuters

In another unusual gesture the Vatican distributed to journalists a minute-by-minute programme with a cover photograph of St John's Tower and the Vatican gardens, to underline the exceptional nature of the visit. Mr Bush arrived in a convoy of some 50 vehicles, accompanied by his wife Laura and Mrs Glendon.

The Vatican said that the Pope simply wanted to show his appreciation for the hospitality he was shown on a recent visit to the US. However Marco Politi, the veteran Vatican correspondent of La Repubblica, said that Mr Bush's unstinting admiration for the Pope had given rise to talk of the President's possible conversion, by analogy with Tony Blair. Mr Bush is a Methodist and a "born again" evangelical Christian.

Reuters

Vatican sources said that no conversion process was under way, and could in any case only take place - as in the case of Mr Blair - once Mr Bush had left office. They said that the rumours appeared to arise in part from remarks by Nancy Brinker, the White House head of protocol, who had said that Mr Bush was "a huge fan of this Pope", had "total respect" for the pontiff and "totally supported" him.

President Bush 'honoured' by Pope's cordial Vatican welcome

Pope lays on special Vatican welcome for Bush

Bush meets Pope in Vatican gardens

Reuters

AFP - Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday praised the work of the Roman Catholic Church in southern Italy as he began a two-day visit to the impoverished Apulia region.

Tradition holds that it was here that Saint Peter, the disciple of Jesus considered the founder of the Christian Church, arrived from Palestine and headed to Rome to begin the evangelisation of Europe."This promontory between Europe and the Mediterranean, between West and East, reminds us that the Church has no borders, that it is universal," said the 81-year-old pontiff.

Benedict also hailed the "generosity" of the port city of Brindisi that for years took in thousands of refugees from the former Yugoslavia and Albania.The German-born pope celebrated an open-air mass attended by several thousand people under a hot sun at a sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin Mary overlooking the sea in this town at the tip of the heel of Italy's "boot."

"Here as in all of southern Italy, Church communities are places where the young generation can learn hope, not as a Utopia but as the tenacious confidence in the force of good," the pope said.

Pope begins two-day tour of impoverished southern Italy


Reuters

AP - Pope Benedict XVI said Saturday that the Church can contribute to the common good by instilling hope in young people and teaching the value of solidarity - but insisted it cannot and does not want to take the place of state institutions. The pontiff also stressed what he said is the universal nature of the Church, speaking in a southeastern Italian region he said he saw as a bridge between East and West.

Speaking to thousands of pilgrims in this seaside town, the pope said "the church's primary duty is to teach social consciousness, carefulness toward other people, solidarity and sharing." His remarks are likely to resonate in an underdeveloped area where unemployment, including among youths, runs high. The pope said the church can "have a positive effect on the social level," noting what he said was a highly individualistic modern society.

But he added that "the Christian community cannot and does not want to substitute the legitimate and dutiful competence of the authorities." Instead, he said the church wants to support them and cooperate with them for the common good...

As he arrived at the sanctuary in Santa Maria di Leuca, Benedict was greeted by thousands of pilgrims waving flags and holding up Vatican banners. He knelt in silent prayer inside the sanctuary before celebrating an open-air Mass.

Benedict took note of the special location of the sanctuary, which also marks the place where St. Peter was believed to have arrived in his travels to Rome from the east. It is called "De Finibus Terrae" ("The End of Land") as it lies in an area at the southernmost tip of the heel of boot-shaped Italy.

"Stretching between Europe and the Mediterranean, between East and West, (it) reminds us that the Church has no borders, it is universal," the pope told the pilgrims.

"Geographical, cultural, ethnic and even religious borders are to the Church an invitation to evangelization," the pope said, speaking of "communion in diversity."

Pope says the church can add to common good,


AP

After the conclusion of the Mass the Pope travelled to Brindisi by helicopter. There he met with young people after travelling by pope-mobile along the harbour.

CWN - Pope Benedict XVI made his 10th apostolic trip within Italy on June 14-15, celebrating Mass on Saturday at the shrine of Santa Maria di Leuca and on Sunday in the city of Brindisi.

Arriving by plane in the southern Italy region on Saturday afternoon, the Holy Father went directly to the shrine. Noting that St. Peter himself had brought the faith to this area, the Pope said: "Peter's faith and Mary's faith come together at this shrine."

The shrine of Santa Maria di Leuca is located on a site known as de finibus terrae, and the Pope commented that both the name and the location "remind us that the Church has no boundaries; that she is universal." However, he cautioned, "It serves no purpose to launch ourselves to the ends of the earth, if first we do not love one another, if we do not help one another within the Christian community."

From the shrine the Pope continued by helicopter to Brindisi, where he reminded public officials that the seaport has historically been a destination for many immigrants seeking a better life. Today, as Brindisi sees waves of immigration from Albania, the Pope reminded the natives that the willingness to welcome new arrivals "forms part of the virtues that make up your rich civil and religious heritage."

Pope's weekend trip to southern Italy

CNS - Pope Benedict XVI called on the world community to help Cameroon break its "vicious circle of underdevelopment and extreme poverty."

He also denounced the world's arms traffickers, urging them to reflect upon the consequences the lucrative industry had on the lives of innocent people.

The pope made his comments in a June 16 audience with Cameroon's new ambassador to the Vatican, Antoine Zanga.

Cameroon's government, like that of all nations, must seek to ensure social and economic stability for its citizens, the pope said. He urged authorities to invest in small projects that promote local entrepreneurship and fight more effectively against illegal weapons trafficking and corruption.

Pope urges world community to help Cameroon out of poverty

Reuters

Reuters

CWN - Pope Benedict XVI met on June 20 with administrators of Catholic radio stations from around the world, and told them: "The words that you broadcast each day are an echo of that eternal Word which became flesh."

The Holy Father spoke to participants in a conference at the Pontifical Urban University, organized by the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, under the leadership of Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli. He told the 130 broadcasting executives, representing stations in 50 different countries, that they should recognize the importance of their work in the evangelizing mission of the Church.

Pope Benedict told the radio executives that he could understand how they might feel "completely lost amid the competition of other noisy and more powerful mass media." But he urged them not to become discouraged, reminding them that Jesus was born into humble surroundings, isolated from the "noisy imperial cities of antiquity," so that the climactic even in of human history, the Incarnation, nearly escaped public notice.

Pope sees vital role for Catholic broadcasters